reiff



(No Model.) .3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. N. REIFF.

RAILROAD SIGNAL APPARATUS. No. 352,779. Patented Nov. 16, 1886.

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.. the ribs 7) b constituting guides for the signal- UNITEDSTATESDPATENT Fries;

GUSTAVUS vN. REIFF, OF'PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD H.JOHNSTON, OF SAME PLACE.

RAI LROAD-SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 352,779, dated November16,1886.

' Application filed December 8, 1885. Serial No. 185,203. (No model.)

- To all whom it may concern.-

different positions; and my invention consists.

, in the combination, with the signal-bars, of a slide connected withthe signal-lever and shifting-connections between the slide and theswitching devices or switch-rails, and in the use, in connectiontherewith, of a locking device, whereby both signal-bars are lockeduntil one or the other of them is in connection with the bar-operatingappliances, and in the construction and arrangement of parts, all asfully set forth hereinafter, and as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing myimproved device in connection with they signals, switch, signal andswitch levers, and main and branch rails of a junction of asingle-tr'ack railway. Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe im- 7 parts shown in Fig;2, illustrating the said proved device, the cap of the box being removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of the parts in different position.Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a planView of the box supporting the signal J and shifting bars, the capremoved. Fig. 7 is a transverse section.

view illustrating a modified form of signal barlocking device. Inniyimproved device there are two signal- I bars, A A, which slide'inabox, B, provided with a base-plate, a, a cap-plate, O, and with ribs b bo, and central block, d, the latter and bars, which slide parallel toeach otherin the box between the ribs and thecentral guide- ;block asbearings. A transverse groove, :0, in the base of the box, extendingthrough the Fig. 8 is a perspectiverib b and into the rib b, constitutesaguide for and receives a shifting-bar, D, in which is a slot, y,for'the passage of a slide, E, the end of the latter being formed into ahead, 6, adapted to recesses or bearings i of the signal bars, so as toengage and connect with the latter when the slide is carried to one sideor the other, as hereinafter set forth.

With the parts above described l ernploy a locking'device of anysuitable character, so

arranged and constructed as to lock both the bars in the position shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3,

Whenever the slide is in a mid-position, or out v. of contact witheither bar, and so that when the slide is in contact with either bar, orin a mid-position, the other bar only will be locked.

- One locking device which has proved effect ive is illustrated in Figs.2 to 5, and consists of a bolt, f, sliding transversely in a groove, w,in the face of the block d, and a lever, I,

vibrating upon a pin, 12, projecting from the block d, and having in theopposite end a slot, 2, receiving a central pin, 9, projecting upwardfrom the bolt f. The bolt 3 is adapted to notches m m in the inner edgesof the signal-bars A A, and is of such length that when moved laterallyto its full extent into the notch of one bar its opposite end will beflush with the side of the block d and wholly out of the notch of theopposite bar,"whereby a very slight movement of the bolt toward itscentral position will cause it to occupy a place in the notches of bothbars, and thereby prevent both of them from moving longitudinally. Thelongitudinal movementis imparted to each signal-bar by the longitudinalmovement of the slide E,which, to eft'ectthe movementof the signalbar,is brought toward the latter until the head 6 engages in the notch i ofthe bar to be moved, when the reciprocation or sliding movement of theslide E will carry with it the bar with which the slide is inconnection. The slide is brought into operative con! opposite bar andlocks the latter in position, while the bar to which the slide has beenbrought may move freely in connection with the said slide.-

In the application of the above-described device, in connection with thesignals and switch of a railway, the carrying-bar is connected to theswitch-tongue or rails, and each of the signal-bars A A is connected toone of the signals.

The device may be used in connection with various arrangements ofswitches and different characters of signals. I have shown it in Fig. 1in relation to the switch at a junction and to the signal K of the mainline, the signal J of the branch line, and the signal-lever L andswitch-lever M of a gang of levers-as, for instance, the levers of aSaxby 81 Farmer signal and switch device.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the carrier-bars Dare connected tothe switch-rails h h by rods jj and crank in. The signal-bar A isconnected by a rod, m to a crank-lever, N, and the latter is connectedby a rod, 12, to the signalJ. The signal-bar A is connected by a rod, m,to a crank-lever, M,which operates the signal K. The slide E isconnected by a rod, 12, to a crank-lever, P,which is connected with theoperating hand-signal lever L, and the switch-lever M is connected,through the medium of cranklevers Q E and rods q q,with theswitch-rails. A third lever, L, is connected with the slide E of asecond box, B, supporting slides connected 'to signals S S. When theswitch-lever M is vibrated so as to throw the switch-rails fully to oneposition or the other, the movement of the rails is transmitted to thecarrier-bar D, and the head of the latter is brought into engagementwith one or the otherof the signal-bars, and the signallever L may thenbe moved so as to carry with it the signal-bar with which the slide E isengaged, the other being locked. The parts are so arranged and connectedthat the shifting of the switch-rails will always bring the slide E intoconnection with the signal-bar that operates the signal of the trackwhich is opened or completed by the movement of the switch, so that thesaid signal, which is normally at danger, may be set to safety, and itwill be seen that when the slide E has been thrown inward to set thesaid signal at safety the switch-rails will be thereby locked in theirposition, inasmuch as the said slide is carried between the parallelbearings formed by the side rib, b or b, and the middle rib, c, andcannot be moved laterally, thereby preventing any movement of thecarrying-bar D so long as the slide is in this position. Thus when theslide E has been carried to the position shown in Fig. 4 on the openingor completing of the branch line, and on the setting of the sig nal Jthereof in position indicating safety, it will be between the ribs 12 a,and will hold the carrying-bar D, and the switch-rails connectedtherewith, securely in position; but when the slide is drawn outwarduntil its head can pass the end of the rib c it can be moved freely withthe carrier-bar D, when the latter is shifted by the shifting of theswitch-rails,or any parts connected therewith.

Should the switchrails be set to a mid-position, it will be impossibleto alter'either signal from danger to safety, inasmuch as any attempt tothen move the slide E will be resisted by the contact of the head of theslide with the end of the rib or bearing 0, the resistance to themovement of the signal thus indicating to the attendant in the cabinthat the switch-rails are out of position,while both tracks are blockedby the danger-signal, and both signals are locked so that they cannot bealtered.

The bars A A may in someinstances be arranged close together, instead ofbeing separated by the block at, in which case the looking deviceprevents the movement of both bars until the slide is fully connected tomove either one or the other. In such case, also, the slide takes itslateral bearings against the side rib, b or b, and the side of thelocked bar.

While the device described is thus effective in looking both signals andthe switch-rails at the proper times, and in transmitting motion to thesignals to be operated when the parts are all in proper position, it isextremely simple in its construction, consisting of parts which operatepositively without lost motion or liability to become impaired. orinoperative from wear, and not liable to be effected injuriously by theconditions under which it must be used.

It is not necessary to construct all the parts of the device in themanner above described. For instance, the slide E and the signal-barsmay be diiferently constructed,so as to secure a temporary connection ofthe slide with each ICC bar when the slide is brought against suchbearings on both signal-bars, and the connec tions between the bolt andthe signal-bar operating devices may be a rock-shaft, s, carrying across-head, t, with turned-up ends, with which a lug, r, on theshifting-bar D makes contact as the slide is brought into connectionwith either signal-banthus rocking the bolt away from its bearing onthat bar.

The connections with the lock or bolt may be operated by the movement ofany part of the signal-bar operating mechanism-as, for instance, theslide-and different connections than those described may be used betweenthe slide and the switch-rails or any part of the switch-operatingdevices. i

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement ofparts shown, I claim- 1. A signal-operating device consisting ofzontally movable slide constructed to make Thus the slide may haverecesses to reconnection with each bar independently, and

means for shifting the slide laterally, and a locking device independentof the slide,

whereby both bars are locked immovably un- 5 til the slide is inconnectionwith one or the other of the bars, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the signal-bars and laterally and horizontallymoving slide and shifting device, of a locking device independent of theslide, and connections between the same and the slide or shiftingdevice, whereby the locking device is withdrawn on the shifting of theslide from each bar as the slideis brought into connection therewith,substantially as described. 1

3. The combination of the signal-bars, the center and side ribsextending longitudinally, and the sliding and shifting slide connectedwith the switch devices and adapted to make connection with either barand to fit between each side rib and the center rib when thrown inwardto set the signal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the sliding signal- 25 bars, shifting slideadapted to slide with'each bar between parallel bearings, and a lookingdevice for securing both bars, and a lever extending between the lockingdevice and the slide or shifting bar, connected to move the o lock tounlock only the signal-bar towhich the slide is connected, substantiallyas described.

5. The combination of the parallel notched signal -bars, independentbolt arranged between to lock both bars immovably, and con-- 3 5nectionsbetween thebolt and thebar-operating devices, whereby the boltis withdrawn only from the notch of the bar in connection with suchoperating devices, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the signal-bars, sliding bolt, shifting slide,and'lever connected to the bolt and to the slide-shifting devices,substantially as described.

7. The combination of the signal-bars, bolt, slide, slide-carrying bar,and lever connected to the bolt and slide-carrying bar, substantially asdescribed. j

8. The box, the signal-bars guided therein, the rib 0, extending betweenthe bars, the slide and slide-carrying bar sliding transversely of 5c.the box, the bolt f, and lever I, all substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the main and branch tracks and switch-bars andsignals of a railway, of a signal-lever, switch-lever, signal-bars eachconnected to operate one of the signals, slide connected to the signallever and adapted to make connection with each bar, slide-shiftingdevices connected with the switch devices, an independent locking devicefor securingboth bars, and connections between the lock and thesignal-bar-operat-ing devices, substantially as. described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two 65 subscribing witnesses.

. GUSTAVUS N. REIFF.

Witnesses:

EDWARD H. JoHNs'roN, HAROLD E. COBB.

